Forlot - Books 1-3 {Completed}

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"Nigel! Help!"

"Huh?!" I snapped out of my trance with Nora and focused my attention on Katherine and Maxine.

Tears streamed down Maxine's cheeks, and she kicked her legs frantically as Katherine gripped her neck, her sharp fingertips digging into shadowy flesh. Maxine coughed, and her blue eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out.

"Maxine!" I cried.

I hurried over to them and gripped Katherine's arms, trying to pull her away from my friend, but she kicked me hard in the stomach. I screamed and fell back. My body hit the floor, and I held my stomach.

"After I suffocate the life out of your dear friend, then you will be next, hero," Katherine warned.

"N-Nigel..." Maxine managed to choke out.

I did not glance at either of the girls. I could not. Pain shot throughout my body, and I could not move. It was as if I suddenly got paralyzed from just a kick.

I laid there and moaned softly. I could easily hear Maxine's cries and pleas. Begging to be free. Wanting me to help. But there was nothing that I could do. Hearing Maxine crying and coughing made the pain in me hurt even more. I wanted to help her. I wanted to stop Katherine and teach her a lesson or two. But that would not happen if I did not have the strength to do so...

I then noticed something from the corner of my eye. Something shiny.

Suddenly filled with curiosity, I slowly turned my head, taking my sweet time. My eyes widened when I realized that it was the sword. The sword that Nora had given to Maxine.

And it was inches away from me.

I held out a hand and reached for the sword. I gritted my teeth and stretched my arm all the way out to the point where the muscles were beginning to ache.

But I was close. So very close. My nails brushed against the handle of the sword.

"Almost...there..." I whispered to myself.

Three more inches...

Yes!

I grabbed ahold of the sword.

I did it!

I slightly smiled, but it instantly faded when I heard Maxine cry out in agony.

"Say goodbye to your little world, you stupid shadow," Katherine commented.

I frowned. It was the time to act.

I glared at Katherine's stomach, and then back at the sword. I did not know whether the sword would injure her or not...

"Ah!" Maxine wailed.

...but it was now or never.

I raised the sword.

Or I tried to.

The sword would not budge.

I let out a grunt and, keeping a tight grip on the handle, tried lifting the sword again. Unfortunately, it was no use.

What was up with this sword? It could not be too heavy for me to pick up. Could it?

I tried again, and the box of matches slid out of my pocket. I glanced at it.

"How did you fall out of my pocket?" I said to myself. I then got an idea.

Maybe I could scare Katherine off with fire.

I slid the box open and picked up the match. I glared at the edge of the box and took a deep breath.

It is just a small amount of fire. That is all.

I scraped the round end of the match against the box, and fire instantly flashed on top of the match. I looked up at Katherine and grinned.

"Hey, Katherine," I said.

"What?" she wondered.

Oh, she wondered.

Before I had the chance to tell her of the fire, a shadow came from behind and grabbed her. The shadow was thin and had blue eyes.

"Let go of her!" the shadow who burst in demanded.

I immediately realized who the shadow was.

It was Karla.

Karla had come back!

"You let me go, sister!" Katherine ordered.

"We are not sisters! You know that!" Karla said.

Not sisters?

Katherine let go of Maxine's neck, and then the two shadows fought. Maxine fell down, and her body made contact with my knee.

"Ow!" I shouted. The match flew out of my hand, and I hugged my leg and rubbed my knee.

Then I heard a scream.

Two screams.

I looked to where the screams were coming from and let out a gasp.

Katherine was on fire.

And so was Karla.